Women still die of it, but with good screening programmes, it is very, very survivable. That is why we must do all we can in and out of Second Life to support various campaigns. I've linked to the UK campaign, but googling should lead you to various charities around the globe, including your country. I've written elsewhere on the blog about it. Please do read the post if you haven't already done so.
Emma, Diane and I all happened to be online simultaneously last week and discussed the blog, our Second Lives, our real lives and the global economy (we sorted that out in the time it took to drink a coffee, incidentally). Either Diane or Emma (it was me, Ems) mentioned you could get everything under the sun in SL. I beg to differ. I've typed 'mastectomy' into the search box and nothing comes up. It's an omission that needs to be rectified. That's why I'm going to put up L$2000 to the designer who can come up with a good mastectomy skin. Yes, probably a tall order, but it's something I'd be prepared to wear in SL in order to highlight, continually, the presence of breast cancer, how it affects women physically, and how we do not cease to be sexual beings or attractive following the loss of a breast (or breasts). I'll even throw in an extra L$500 if someone can come up with a good photorealistic skin before October 28th.
My life has been altered by breast cancer, and my SL time has diminished greatly since being diagnosed with it, as I've utilised free time to help, as a volunteer, with a UK charity. However, SL is a close-knit and sizeable online community, and I feel that it's important we get the message out, and make it loud and clear. I make no apologies for banging on about this, and will probably remind you again before the month is out. Stay happy and stay healthy.
Love,
Marlene.
PS: Would any bloggers who read this either copy and paste it into their blog, or else link to this? Every bit of publicity and awareness helps. :)
Just as well, my mom has been fighting Stage 3 breast cancer for a little more than a year. Thankfully, we have the best oncologist in Singapore to look after her at a pretty steep discount.
ReplyDeleteDavlos, all of the staff here at 2ex wish her well and our prayers go out to her.
ReplyDeleteCome on, people! It's an important issue for everyone. That's two of the staff at 2ex, an unimportant little outpost in a dusty corner of the gaming world, who are directly affected by it. We probably ALL know someone affected by it. Let's work to beat it. Let's work to raise awareness about it. Let's work to raise money for treatment and research.